The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-03-26
COUNTY VS.. CITY ROADS.
Baltimore's Thoroughfares no Better than
those in the County.


The Baltimore Sun has lately been discussing
the public road question and has devoted consid-
cradle attention to Baltimore county. Some of its
complaints are not without foundation, but in its
efforts to lay bare the faults that exist in coun-
ty it seems to have entirely neglected those within
its own boundaries and which are equally censur-
able with our own. A correspondent of The Sun
points out some of these in the following commu-
nication addressed to that paper:
"While the question of bad roads is being agi-
tated, and the county authorities and turnpike
companies are being srraigned for derection of
duties, think it fitting opportunity to direct
public attention to the present and past condition
of some of the suburban roads and streets within
the limits of the city.
~ wish to speak particularly of the locality
known as Northeast Baltimore, whore have been
resident for thirty five years, and for over
twenty the owner of several acres of land just
within the limits of the city. We are about half
a mile distant from the nearest paved street, and
in order to reach the city proper must necessarily
pass over this distance of road. At no time in my
recollection have any of these roads been in
a passable condition at this season of the year,
and owing to the extreme weather of the past two
months, this year is no exception. At present,
though living within forty yards of Monument
street, it is impossible for me to reach my premises
with loaded vehicle without making a detour
through the county of nearly quarter of a mile,
or run the risk of being mired in one of tdb two
principal thoroughfares through this section Of the
city.
"On the eastern extremity of my property lies
what is known as Loney's lane. This lane, al
though the eastern boundary of Baltimore is al
most unknown to any one except a resident of the
neighborhood and for long time it seems 70 have
been entirely forgotten by those whose duty it
should be to attend to it, For many years the
property holders would turn out with their teams
in the winter and get the road in proper repair for
spring hauling, but as much of the property has
changed hands and the travel became directed in
other directions, the practice gradually dropped
off, until finally it was abandoned and the road be-
came almost impossible. After much importu-
ming the City Commissioner made several feeble
attempts to repair it, and reached his GROWING
effort about two years ago, when ditch about
three feet deep was dug along side, the clay
from which thro into the middle of the road,
and there it lies to day, shining example of the
good (?) roads of Baltimore city, impossible even
| to pedestrians.
"The Philadelphia road, with which this lale
connects on the south, from the point of connec-
tion westward, turned over to the city by the
turnpike company some years since, and persons
with property bordering thereon expected to g.
cure better road than had been given them ly
the turnpike company. But how soon we're they
undeceived, for never since the city obtained poi
session Of it has it been safe to travel upoi,
either in winter summer.
"Thus could give instances of the bad cond-
ton and worse management of our city streets ard
roads which are not yet paved, but think have
said enough to show that residence in the city
does not free us from the ills which are supposed
to belong to the county alone And yet for tie
| past ten years we have had tho unenviabe priv
lege of paying taxes on our cabbage patches on an
exorbitant valuation assessed per front foot pr
iected streets, which, were they opened and kept
in as good repair as those we now have, could not
fail to enhance the value of our property.
'In conclusion, let me say word in defenseof
our county brethren. They have good roads as
can be had for the money collected and spent for
them, and before further criticism is made upon
their management let US first pluck out the bean
that is in eye then shall we see more
clearly, &c."